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Controversial 60s folk legend who wrote Puff The Magic Dragon and always denied its meaning is dead at 86
Daily Mail UK ^ | January 7, 2025 | JUSTIN ENRIQUEZ

Posted on 01/07/2025 11:28:03 AM PST by Morgana

Peter Yarrow who was part of the legendary 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul, And Mary who are best known for iconic song Puff The Magic Dragon is dead at 86.

The controversial musician passed away after battling bladder cancer for four years his publicist confirmed.

He was the lead vocalist of the hit track Puff The Magic Dragon - which was released in 1960 - as he denied that the song was about drugs for years which is what many had believed.

Yarrow staunchly denied that it was about drug taking and has maintained that the actual meaning of the song is about the hardships of growing up.

The musician has previously said that the song 'never had any meaning other than the obvious one' and is about the 'loss of innocence in children.'

Yarrow had also been embroiled in controversy as he was sentenced to three months in jail over a 1969 incident in which the 14-year-old and her 17-year-old sister went to his hotel seeking an autograph and he answered the door naked.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: 60s; peterpaulandmary; peteryarrow; puffthemagicdragon
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To: Morgana

“Greg Focker: Some people think that to “puff the magic dragon” means to- They’re really, uh - to smoke - to smoke - a marijuana cigarette. Jack Byrnes: Puff’s just the name of the boy’s magical dragon. Greg Focker: Right. Jack Byrnes: Are you a pothead, Focker?”


81 posted on 01/07/2025 12:54:42 PM PST by HereInTheHeartland (Have you seen Joe Biden's picture on a milk carton?)
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To: ViLaLuz

I hope you enjoyed “Barack the Magic Negro.” Only Rush...


82 posted on 01/07/2025 12:55:35 PM PST by vaskypilot
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To: Jim W N

Did he renounce his support for Castro and Ortega?


83 posted on 01/07/2025 12:57:47 PM PST by alstewartfan (Child slavery, rape and drug OD's mean nothing to Roberts and Barrett. )
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To: 1Old Pro

“ and White Rabbit was about making stew.”

I believe Grace Slick states that was about drugs

If the guy says it wasn’t about drugs it wasn’t. What’s the problem


84 posted on 01/07/2025 12:58:39 PM PST by stanne (Because they were mesmerized by Obama, the man for whom this was named, whose name they left out of )
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To: stanne
If the guy says it wasn’t about drugs it wasn’t. What’s the problem

No problem here, I actually believe him, especially give it was adapted from a poem an acquaintance wrote 3 years prior.

85 posted on 01/07/2025 1:01:09 PM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: Morgana

Loved Harry Chapin. Phenomenal composer and humanitarian.


86 posted on 01/07/2025 1:02:04 PM PST by alstewartfan (Child slavery, rape and drug OD's mean nothing to Roberts and Barrett. )
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To: Morgana

And don’t even ask about H.R.Puffinstuff.


87 posted on 01/07/2025 1:05:57 PM PST by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: Red Badger

Ha!


88 posted on 01/07/2025 1:07:20 PM PST by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: Flash Bazbeaux

Captain Kangaroo- Janet Yellen look-alike.


89 posted on 01/07/2025 1:10:35 PM PST by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: subterfuge
I was partial to The Bugaloos, myself...

I mean what schoolboy didn't have a mad crush on Joy?

90 posted on 01/07/2025 1:11:00 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Jamestown1630

Heck, it was played on Captain Kangaroo!............


91 posted on 01/07/2025 1:11:44 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Morgana

The offense noted in the story you linked.


92 posted on 01/07/2025 1:12:16 PM PST by Nextrush (FREEDOM IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS-REMEMBER REV. NIEMOLLER)
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To: alstewartfan

Yes, another who passed way too soon


93 posted on 01/07/2025 1:12:59 PM PST by KC_for_Freedom (retired aerospace engineer and CSP who also taught)
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To: Morgana

https://filmdaily.co/news/peter-yarrow/


94 posted on 01/07/2025 1:17:15 PM PST by jjotto ( Blessed are You LORD, who crushes enemies and subdues the wicked.)
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To: dfwgator

I’ll probably have nightmares about that now. Oh well!

UF beat UT tonight!


95 posted on 01/07/2025 1:22:43 PM PST by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: Morgana
The song was written before the group was formed. Yarrow was supposed to meet a friend after one of his college classes which was about Folklore and they were going to go to lunch. Yarrow typed the lyrics on his friends typewriter and left because the guy didn't show up. It was maybe several years later his friend mentioned the song he left there and that was where it came from.

It is a song about growing up and a boy growing out of Imaginary friends of his childhood and moving on in life. It was written in the late 1950's. Very little evidence points to it being anymore than what it's author claims it is.

Now for those wanting scandal go look up the origional lyrics to Take me home Country Roads written by Bill and Taffy Danoff and John Denver LOL Look for the lost verse Denver never recorded but Danoff did LOL.

96 posted on 01/07/2025 1:32:54 PM PST by cva66snipe
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To: Morgana

He would have been 31 or so when pedophilia incident occurred.
Most likely not the first time he “pulled” that act.
But it would be very lonely on the road and he probably did did similar stuff to fans over the age of consent. No excuse however.


97 posted on 01/07/2025 1:35:36 PM PST by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and harder tro find. )
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To: Steve_Seattle
One of the most nauseating songs ever.

I will see your Puff the Magic Dragon and raise you Muskrat Love.

Or Disco Duck. Either one will do.

98 posted on 01/07/2025 1:43:09 PM PST by Lizavetta
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To: cyclotic

Sorry, not really aimed at you. For anyone who just read the excerpt, it wasn’t an innocent mistake like it might seem.


99 posted on 01/07/2025 1:44:56 PM PST by Rastus
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To: Steely Tom
Puff The Magic Dragon personified.


When I was in second grade (1962), I begged my parents to get me PTMD to play on my little record player. They never got around to it, kept "forgetting" to buy it. Eventually I forgot about it.

100 posted on 01/07/2025 1:45:12 PM PST by knarf (Ther )
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